Taking Flight In Retirement

Each of us chart our own path to and through retirement. We have our own idea about what this chapter should look like. Sometimes circumstances beyond our control alter the landscape. Our health. Our loved one’s health. Financial health…etc. Most first responders and veterans are quite adaptable and capable of improvising and moving beyond the insects with stingers that can ruin our plans. We have back up plans, contingency plans and think well on our feet. We are the guy in the reflective vest guiding everyone out of the building for the fortieth emergency drill this year. Interestingly enough, although we tend to be quite good at the drills and the missions, many of us are not so good at retirement.

I’ve written about this before, but the topic deserves revisiting for two reasons: One, I’ve learned new things since I last wrote and two, I have some new subscribers (keep sharing please) who have not seen this content.

First things first. As you prepare for retirement everyone needs a plan. You should have a rough outline of what you are going to do, how you are going to live and support yourself. For the record, I am not counting recreational pastimes as plans. Golfing, fishing, sailing or hiking can be PART of a plan but they are not THE plan. If you set out with recreation as your plan, in all likelihood you will fail before you start. Right now somewhere someone’s head is exploding. “He is full of shit! I can golf all day seven days a week if I want to!” Yes. Yes you can. Then the very thing you love will begin to bore you. In addition, a Prussian general once said “No plan survives first contact with the enemy” (or some version of that). You could get injured. Your partner could decide they don’t want to play any more…and so on.

That brings me to the second part. We all have to be flexible. It’s easy to say but as we age, flexibility and adaptability become challenging for some reason. No matter what, we can’t get stuck. If something unexpected happens (and it always does) we have to adapt and move forward. If you wake up and realize that you are in the same place with no growth, no learning, nothing added to your life than where you were six months ago, a year ago or whatever your metric of measurement is…make an adjustment.

Again the paradox. At a time in our lives when we are more set in our ways, less flexible and less likely to take risks, I’m suggesting taking some risks to increase your reward in retirement. We humans are meant to grow. We need stimulation and challenges and this can be difficult as an older person who has left the workplace. Here are a few suggestions.

Enroll in continuing education classes at a college or university. Finish your degree. Take some classes that merely interest you. Take them in person and not visually if possible which will force interaction with other people..

Volunteer somewhere. This can be highly rewarding and lead to other interactions (other volunteer jobs or part time jobs etc.) too. Just because you start volunteering somewhere doesn’t mean you are signing a mortgage with them. The idea is interactions, learning new things and a sense of being needed. If it doesn’t work out, ditch it and move on to the next one!

Get a part time job. Many employers would kill for talented, responsible retired first responders or veterans (or retirees period!) on thier payroll. The same rules apply for the part time jobs as the volunteer ones noted above.

Pick up a new hobby. Try something that you are interested in but never did before. Get involved in a group that does this. Learn from others and participate with the group. You might just find out there are a whole lot of folks out there in the same boat as you.

Humans are gregarious creatures who need to exercise their minds and bodies. Retirement can be a wonderful time to spread your wings and experience a lot of what the world has to offer in that regard. Best to remember the many lessons our careers had to offer and the addition of planning and flexibility in retirement. May all of you reading this have a lengthy, healthy, happy retirement full of challenges and rewards.

If you or someone you know is struggling, there is help. Call 988 or if you are in the Big Bend of Florida call 211. The 2nd Alarm Project has many resources available as well (2ndalarmproject.org). If you are interested in getting notified when a new blog is posted and are not subscribed, please consider subscribing by entering your email in the “subscribe” icon on the home page. Then you’ll get an email each time a new blog is posted. If you appreciate what you have read here, please feel free to share as you are led across your social media or via email. There just might be someone out there who needs to see this content. Thank you all and stay safe.